1. Chris Froome, currently 1st
This one looks good to stand to Paris so while some others below are well off, the one that counts appears on!
2. Vincenzo Nibali, 10th @ 6' 57"
Absolutely not the man we seen 12 months ago. He lost time where we thought he'd gain it in the first week and was badly exposed on today's first mountain stage.
3. Thibaut Pinot, 27th @ 18' 18"
An awful first week that began to unravel right after a solid stage 1 time-trial only got worse today when he was dropped early. Stage wins is the goal now but top 10 never mind 3rd is unlikely.
4. Nairo Quintana, 3rd @ 3' 09"
Looking at the shape of the opposition, even this early in the mountains, it's hard to see him failing to hit the podium as I felt he might before this Tour began. What was I thinking?
5. Tejay Van Garderen, 2nd @ 2' 52"
He had a flawless first week and while he had a hard go today he still beat out many of his biggest rivals. He should settle in and finishing higher than 5th is a very real possibility.
6. Alberto Contador, 6th @ 4' 04"
I appears accurate in my belief that doing the Giro-Tour double would be a ridge too far for Aberto.
7. Romain Bardet, 22nd @ 13' 38"
Tough first week for yet another young French star and a rough first day in the mountains. He should improve and even win a stage but a top 10 will even be a big ask now.
8. Ryder Hesjedal, 80th @ 45' 28"
In his own words, Ryder has spent the first week 'chilling at the back of the bunch'. The Giro was his big effort and this Tour has been about recover/energy preservation ahead of a stage win in the Alps. He will soar up the standings now they're in the mountains, but not likely higher than 20th.
9. Pierre Rolland, 23rd @ 13' 57"
The best of the French on the first mountain day he spent the first week shedding time. Perhaps to line up his bid for the polka-dot and a stage win, but climbing to 9th is definitely doable.
10. Rui Costa, 33rd @ 22' 10"
Rui struggled today losing over 16 minutes to Froome and dropping him well down the standings and out of top 10 contention. A stage win in the Massif Central should be his aim now.
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Green: Peter Sagan, 2nd @ -3pts
Heading into terrain were Sagan can pick up points in places Andre Greipel cannot all but ensures he'll move into Green and move clear. Greipel won't give up without a fight but it's hard to see Sagan losing out.
KOM: Pierre Rolland, 8th @ -39pts
Today's loan mountain in which the first serious points in this competition were dished out means it's far too early to form an opinion on how this competition is going but I still fancy Rolland to have a crack at it, perhaps with Rafal Majka (defending champ) and some fellow Frenchmen for competition.
White: Nairo Quintana, 1st
Seems absurd that he's still eligible for this contest. The UCI/ASO need to consider reducing the age from 25 to 23 for this, but as it is it's hard to see anyone else beating him.
